Cheap return fares on Royal Brunei during June School Holidays MEL to BKK

[joyvee]

Water village as above.There is a journey up river which takes 2 days from memory. In Bandar which is very small, there is a small market to visit, lots of little fish and foodstuffs and some hopeful cats. Souvenirs. Very small. Two museums. Mosque. Can drive by Sultan's palace which is open one day a year. Visit the Empire Hotel for opulence and maybe a game f golf. there was red algae in sea when we were there but lots of swimming pools. Beach was so so. Look on Lonely Planet's Thorntree and Trip Advisor and ask question there for up to date info. Public transport seems sparse. New shopping centre area has lots of eateries.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

RI are using 2x2x2 in J while Qatar used 1x2x1 so is obviously more spacious in J.

2-2-2 could actually be more spacious than 1-2-1

 

[joyvee]

Maybe so but Qatar J class was very spacious in Dreamliner 787. If you are short and wide, a single seat means you get a window view and do not have to learn to levitate to climb over a sleeping stranger to go to the lavatory. If you are young and lithe it would be of little consequence or travelling with a mate ... perhaps.

 

[NFF]

It's easy to navigate around Bandar Seri Begawan. Check Google's satellite image. There is a night market and shopping centre in the city. Not far from there is the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien mosque and the Regalia (used to be an aquarium). Go to Jalan Berangan to see how the locals live, it's a short road that leads into a very dense forest. To the west of the city, across a river is a place called Seri. It was packed with restaurants and shops. The mall is in Gadong with one or two hotels as well. I think the night market in Gadong is still going. The main palace is on the bank of Brunei River, there is another palace north of it, and other palaces outside the city. Please note that I was there many years ago.

Brunei Night Market - Gadong Pasar Malam, Travel Guide - YouTube
Exhilarating Brunei_International.VOB - YouTube

 

[joyvee]

Thanks for that extensive info above. Will follow it up during June stop over.

 

[zainman]

Thanks for that extensive info above. Will follow it up during June stop over.

I will also be there in June, looking forward to it!

 

[NFF]

Jerudong Park Playground is open to visitors once again.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It must be pointed out now in any discussion around Brunei, including choosing their airline, that they have recently implemented Sharia Law.

Brunei Sultan Slams Foreign Criticism of Sharia Law, Threatens Critics - TIME

 

[zainman]

It must be pointed out now in any discussion around Brunei, including choosing their airline, that they have recently implemented Sharia Law.

Brunei Sultan Slams Foreign Criticism of Sharia Law, Threatens Critics - TIME

Don't think it would apply to non-muslims.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Don't think it would apply to non-muslims.

whatever the ins and outs, it still applies to the citizens of the country. We need to make a decision as to whether we support that.

 

[pen48]

Well have booked MEL/LHR ret, dep Dec 15[SUP]th[/SUP], ret Jan 25[SUP]th[/SUP] on BI 787 Dreamliner Y class. Competitive price 3 x shorter legs, layovers reasonable, not fussed about “dry airline”, but could possibly take advantage of boarding with duty free. So far am very impressed with their service, contacted them re seat allocation and was changed with confirming emails within one hour. Now looking forward to our first Dreamliner flight.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Well have booked MEL/LHR ret, dep Dec 15[SUP]th[/SUP], ret Jan 25[SUP]th[/SUP] on BI 787 Dreamliner Y class. Competitive price 3 x shorter legs, layovers reasonable, not fussed about “dry airline”, but could possibly take advantage of boarding with duty free. So far am very impressed with their service, contacted them re seat allocation and was changed with confirming emails within one hour. Now looking forward to our first Dreamliner flight.

With the introduction of Sharia law i wonder whether they will continue to allow the service of alcohol on board.

All-in-all a very sad state of affairs

 

[joyvee]

A friend of mine returned MEL LHR return last week and said she had no trouble taking her four little bottles she bought at duty free on board. Staff happy to serve it.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

A friend of mine returned MEL LHR return last week and said she had no trouble taking her four little bottles she bought at duty free on board. Staff happy to serve it.

Sharia law is being introduced in stages.

The banning of alcohol for Muslims will begin within the next 12 months according to the news. With whippings and amputation as the penalties.

I imagine there will be lots of things to consider for anyone thinking about flying Royal Brunei.

 

[pen48]

My partner & I have now completed our trip and all went well. Sat in row 52 on all legs as requested. Very impressed with the Dreamliner, plenty of leg room (6ft & 6'2" respectively), with minimum intrusion from the seat in front when fully back. Flight staff were very polite & helpful, seemed a little reserved on way out, but excellent on return legs, meals were all quite good. Terminal at Bandar Seri Begawan is under renovations and facilities are very sparse (take a good book to read if transiting).